Poetry Explorer

Search Classic and Contemporary Poetry

Search Results

Back to search

Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!


Searching...
Subject: VILLAINS IN LITERATURE
Matches Found: 50

UPDATE command denied to user 'poetryex_users'@'localhost' for table `poetryex_poems`.`subcnt` "THE TWA BRETHREN [OR, TWIN BROTHERS] (1)", by ANONYMOUS    Poem Text                    
First Line: There were twa brethren in the north
Last Line: And that will never be
Subject(s): Brothers;murder;villains In Literature; Half-brothers


A SMUGGLER'S SONG, by RUDYARD KIPLING    Poem Text         Poet Analysis         Recitation     Poet's Biography
First Line: If you wake at midnight, and hear a horse's feet
Last Line: Gentlemen go by!
Subject(s): Smuggling & Smugglers; Villains In Literature


ANNETTE MYERS, OR, A MURDER IN ST. JAMES PARK, by UNKNOWN    Poem Source                    
First Line: Another dreadful tale of woe as I will here unfold
Last Line: What dreadful tidings to convey unto his family
Subject(s): Murder; Villains In Literature


BAG-SNATCHING IN DUBLIN, by FLORENCE MARGARET SMITH    Poem Source         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: Sisley %walked so nicely
Last Line: Murderer her for 6/6
Alternate Author Name(s): Smith, Stevie
Subject(s): Murder; Villains In Literature


BALLAD OF THE YORKSHIRE RIPPER, by BLAKE MORRISON    Poem Source                    
First Line: Voice said 'lad, get crackin
Last Line: Ah were putty in its ands
Subject(s): Murder; Villains In Literature


BALLADE D'UNE GRANDE DAME, by GILBERT KEITH CHESTERTON    Poem Source         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: Heaven shall forgive you bridge at dawn
Last Line: It shall not be forgiven you
Alternate Author Name(s): Chesterton, G. K.
Subject(s): Hypocrisy; Villains In Literature


BASE DETAILS, by SIEGFRIED SASSOON    Poem Text         Poet Analysis         Recitation     Poet's Biography
First Line: If I were fierce, and bald, and short of breath
Last Line: I'd toddle safely home and die -- in bed.
Subject(s): Hypocrisy; Soldiers' Writings; Villains In Literature; World War I; First World War


CANON'S ASSISTANT'S TALE, SELS., by GEOFFREY CHAUCER    Poem Source         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: Amongst us there's a canon regular
Last Line: Without a notion of his fraudulence
Subject(s): Con Artists; Villains In Literature


CHARLES AUGUSTUS MILVERTON, by GAVIN EWART    Poem Source         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: Lady eva brackwell, the most lovely debutante of last
Last Line: To the illegal?
Subject(s): Crime And Criminals; Debutantes; Sherlock Holmes; Villains In Literature


CLARISSA HARLOWE POEM, by GAVIN EWART    Poem Source         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: Down then, thou rogue thou, red three-cornered varlet
Subject(s): Villains In Literature


DON GIOVANNI, SELS., by LORENZO DA PONTE    Poem Source                    
First Line: Little lady, you are not going to like this
Last Line: You'll be certain what he wants
Subject(s): Seduction; Villains In Literature


EPITAPH ON A TYRANT, by WYSTAN HUGH AUDEN    Poem Text     Poem Explanation     Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: Perfection, of a kind, was what he was after
Alternate Author Name(s): Auden, W. H.
Subject(s): Spanish Civil War (1936-1939); Tyranny & Tyrants; Villains In Literature; Dictators


EPITAPH ON A TYRANT, by WYSTAN HUGH AUDEN    Poem Source         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: Perfection, of a kind, was what he was after
Last Line: When he laughed, respectable senators burst with laughter %and when he cried the little children die
Alternate Author Name(s): Auden, W. H.
Subject(s): Spanish Civil War (1936-1939); Tyranny And Tyrants; Villains In Literature


FAUST, by JOHANN WOLFGANG VON GOETHE    Poem Text                     Poet's Biography
First Line: Ye wavering shapes, again ye do me enfold
Last Line: Ground.)
Subject(s): Devil; Evil; Faust; Freedom; Religion; Tragedy; Villains In Literature; Witchcraft & Witches; Satan; Mephistopheles; Lucifer; Beelzebub; Liberty; Theology


FAUST, by JOHANN WOLFGANG VON GOETHE    Poem Text                     Poet's Biography
First Line: The sun his ancient music makes
Last Line: Curtain.
Subject(s): Devil; Evil; Faust; Freedom; Religion; Tragedy; Villains In Literature; Witchcraft & Witches; Satan; Mephistopheles; Lucifer; Beelzebub; Liberty; Theology


FAUST BOOK: LUCIFER BROODS, by DENNIS JOSEPH ENRIGHT    Poem Source         Poet Analysis            
First Line: It was quite simple
Last Line: God knows! Yelled meretrix
Subject(s): Devil; Villains In Literature


FAUST, SELECTION, by JOHANN WOLFGANG VON GOETHE    Poem Text                     Poet's Biography
First Line: Happy the man who yet may hope to rise
Last Line: The crane unresting fares in homeward flight.
Subject(s): Evil; Villains In Literature; Witchcraft & Witches


FAUST, SELS., by JOHANN WOLFGANG VON GOETHE    Poem Source                     Poet's Biography
First Line: Ow! Ow! Ow! Ow!
Last Line: To manage witches, this is just the way
Subject(s): Evil; Villains In Literature; Witchcraft And Witches


FRENCH LISETTE; A BALLAD OF MAIDA VALE, by WILLIAM PLOMER    Poem Source         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: Who strolls so late, for mugs a bait
Last Line: Tis folly abounding in a strange surrounding %to be divorced from one's pants
Subject(s): Prostitution; Villains In Literature


FRIAR'S TALE, SELS., by GEOFFREY CHAUCER    Poem Source         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: That thief, the summoner (the friar went on)
Subject(s): Crime And Criminals; Villains In Literature


GOLDEN VANITY (13), by UNKNOWN    Poem Source                    
First Line: A ship I have got in the north country
Last Line: And left him without more ado to drift with the tide, %and to sink by the lowlands low
Subject(s): Treason And Traitors; Villains In Literature


LE MORTE D'ARTHUR, SELS., by THOMAS MALORY    Poem Source                    
First Line: Sir mordred, traitor false and vile
Last Line: For england's sorrow sore
Subject(s): Treason And Traitors; Villains In Literature


LEDA AND THE SWAN, by WILLIAM BUTLER YEATS    Poem Text     Poem Explanation     Poet Analysis         Recitation     Poet's Biography
First Line: A sudden blow [or, the great bird drops]; the great wings beating still
Alternate Author Name(s): Yeats, W. B.
Variant Title(s): Leda
Subject(s): Birds; Imagination; Leda; Mythology - Classical; Seduction; Swans; Trojan War; Villains In Literature; Vision; Zeus; Fancy


LEDA AND THE SWAN, by WILLIAM BUTLER YEATS    Poem Source         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: A sudden blow [or, the great bird drops]; the great wings beating still
Last Line: Before the indifferent beak could let her drop?
Alternate Author Name(s): Yeats, W. B.
Variant Title(s): Led
Subject(s): Birds; Imagination; Leda; Mythology - Classical; Seduction; Swans; Trojan War; Villains In Literature; Vision; Zeus


LEGEND OF STUMPIE'S BRAE, SELS., by CECIL FRANCES ALEXANDER    Poem Source                     Poet's Biography
First Line: They shorten'd the corp, and they pack'd him tight
Last Line: And the ghaist came clattering in
Alternate Author Name(s): Humprheys, Cecil Frances; Alexander, C. F., Mrs.
Subject(s): Murder; Villains In Literature


LORD BARRENSTOCK, by FLORENCE MARGARET SMITH    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: Lord barrenstock and epicene
Alternate Author Name(s): Smith, Stevie
Subject(s): Con Artists; Villains In Literature


LORD BARRENSTOCK, by FLORENCE MARGARET SMITH    Poem Source         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: Lord barrenstock and epicene
Last Line: Be good, my lord, since you can not be pretty
Alternate Author Name(s): Smith, Stevie
Subject(s): Con Artists; Villains In Literature


MACAVITY: THE MYSTERY CAT, by THOMAS STEARNS ELIOT    Poem Text     Poem Explanation     Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: Macavity's a mystery cat: he's called the hidden paw
Alternate Author Name(s): Eliot, T. S.
Subject(s): Animals; Cats; Crime & Criminals; Villains In Literature


MACAVITY: THE MYSTERY CAT, by THOMAS STEARNS ELIOT    Poem Source         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: Macavity's a mystery cat: he's called the hidden paw
Last Line: Are nothing more than agents for the cat who all the time %just controls their operations: the napol
Alternate Author Name(s): Eliot, T. S.
Subject(s): Animals; Cats; Crime And Criminals; Villains In Literature


MILLER'S TALE, SELS., by GEOFFREY CHAUCER    Poem Source         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: The shoes upon her legs were laced up high
Last Line: That when she saw a chance, she would be his
Subject(s): Seduction; Villains In Literature


MURDER OF MARIA MARTEN, by UNKNOWN+303    Poem Source                    
First Line: Come all you thoughtless young men, a warning take by me
Last Line: For murdering maria marten, I was hang'd upon the tree
Subject(s): Murder; Villains In Literature


MURDER ON THE DOWNS, by WILLIAM PLOMER    Poem Source         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: Past a cow and past a cottage
Last Line: And in the bracken like a bed %the murderee
Subject(s): Murder; Villains In Literature


MY LAST DUCHESS; FERRRA, by ROBERT BROWNING    Poem Text     Poem Explanation     Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: That's my last duchess painted on the wall
Last Line: Which claus of innsbruck cast in bronze for me!
Subject(s): Este, Alfonso Ii D'. Duke Of Ferrara; Jealousy; Love - Marital; Marriage; Murder; Paintings & Painters; Portraits; Villains In Literature; Wedded Love; Marriage - Love; Weddings; Husbands; Wives


NOT LONG AGO I MET A CLERK, by UNKNOWN    Poem Source                    
Last Line: Now my maidenhead is taken!
Subject(s): Seduction; Villains In Literature


NOTHING TO FEAR, by KINGSLEY AMIS    Poem Source         Poet Analysis            
First Line: All fixed: early arrival at the flat
Last Line: As cold as ice, but just as set on me
Subject(s): Unfaithfulness; Villains In Literature


ON HAYLEY, by WILLIAM BLAKE    Poem Source         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: To forgive enemies h-- does pretend
Last Line: Do be my enemy -- for friendship's sake
Subject(s): Bible; Hayley, William (1745-1820); Hypocrisy; Mythology; Villains In Literature


ON LADY POLTAGRUE: A PUBLIC PERIL, by HILAIRE BELLOC    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: The devil, having nothing else to do
Last Line: To his extreme annoyance, tempted him.
Alternate Author Name(s): Belloc, Joseph Hilaire Pierre Rene
Subject(s): Evil; Villains In Literature


ON SIR JOSHUA REYNOLDS, by WILLIAM BLAKE    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: Can there be anything more mean
Last Line: When he praises michael angelo
Subject(s): Bible; Hypocrisy; Mythology; Reynolds, Sir Joshua (1723-1792); Villains In Literature


OTELLO, SELS., by ARRIGO BOITO    Poem Source                    
First Line: Iago. Yes, I believe in god who has created
Last Line: And heaven's a foolish tale
Subject(s): Evil; Villains In Literature


POOR BUT HONEST, by ANONYMOUS    Poem Text                    
First Line: "she was poor, but she was honest"
Last Line: It's the rich as gets the pleasure - / ain't it all a bleeding shame!
Subject(s): Dishonor;seduction;villains In Literature;wealth; Riches;fortunes


PORPHYRIA'S LOVER, by ROBERT BROWNING    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: The rain set early in to-night
Last Line: And yet god has not said a word!
Subject(s): Murder; Villains In Literature


ROCHESTER'S CONFERENCE WITH A POST BOY, by JOHN WILMOT    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: Son of a whore, god damn you! Can you tell
Last Line: The readiest way, my lord's by rochester.
Alternate Author Name(s): Rochester, 2d Earl Of
Subject(s): Accidents; Villains In Literature


SOLILOQUY OF THE SPANISH CLOISTER, by ROBERT BROWNING    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: Gr-r-r - there go, my heart's abhorrence!
Last Line: Ave, virgo! Gr-r-r -- you swine!
Subject(s): Hate; Hypocrisy; Villains In Literature


SONNET: 94, by WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE    Poem Text     Poem Explanation     Poet Analysis         Recitation     Poet's Biography
First Line: They that have power to hurt, and will do none
Last Line: Lilies that fester smell far worse than weeds.
Variant Title(s): "the Life Without Passion;""they That Have Pow'r To Hut And Will Do None"";
Subject(s): Gays & Lesbians; Hypocrisy; Sin; Villains In Literature; Homoeroticism; Lesbians; Gay Women; Gay Men


THE EPITAPH IN FORM OF A BALLAD, by FRANCOIS VILLON    Poem Text     Poem Explanation                 Poet's Biography
First Line: Men, brother men, that after us yet live
Last Line: But pray to god that he forgive us all.
Alternate Author Name(s): Montcorbier, Francois De
Variant Title(s): Ballade Of The Gibbet
Subject(s): Capital Punishment; Crime & Criminals; Villains In Literature; Hanging; Executions; Death Penalty


THE MAIMED DEBAUCHEE, by JOHN WILMOT    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: As some brave admiral, in former war
Last Line: And being good for nothing else, be wise.
Alternate Author Name(s): Rochester, 2d Earl Of
Variant Title(s): The Disabled Debauchee
Subject(s): Sailing & Sailors; Seduction; Villains In Literature; Seamen; Sails


THREEPENNY OPERA, SELS., by BERTOLT BRECHT    Poem Source                    
Subject(s): Villains In Literature


TO SIDMOUTH AND CASTLEREAGH, by PERCY BYSSHE SHELLEY    Poem Text         Poet Analysis             Poet's Biography
First Line: As from an ancestral oak
Last Line: Two vipers tangled into one.
Variant Title(s): Similes For Two Political Characters Of 1819
Subject(s): Addington, Henry, Viscount Sidmouth; England; Politics & Government; Statesmen; Stewart, Robert. 2d Marquis Londonderry; Tyranny & Tyrants; Villains In Literature; English; Castlereagh, Viscount


VILLON'S STRAIGHT TIP TO ALL CROSS COVES, by FRANCOIS VILLON    Poem Text                     Poet's Biography
First Line: Suppose you screeve? Or go cheap-jack
Last Line: Booze and the blowens cop the lot
Alternate Author Name(s): Montcorbier, Francois De
Subject(s): Crime & Criminals; Villains In Literature


VILLON'S STRAIGHT TIP TO ALL CROSS COVES, by FRANCOIS VILLON    Poem Source                     Poet's Biography
First Line: Suppose you screeve? Or go cheap-jack
Last Line: Booze and the blowens cop the lot
Alternate Author Name(s): Montcorbier, Francois De
Subject(s): Crime And Criminals; Villains In Literature